“Intentions minus actions equals squat.” Dave Skogen offered that bit of wisdom to the approximately 60 people gathered for the third annual Holmen Area Foundation Community Breakfast.

Skogen, owner of Festival Foods, was the guest speaker of the event held May 1. He passed along some of the secrets to his success.

By following the principles enumerated by Jack Welch in his book “Winning,” and by following the philosophy of servant leadership, Skogen said he has watched his company succeed. Using one of the principles expounded upon in “Winning,” Skogen said that his company is winning the people quality challenge by having the right people on the bus and in the right seats.

Change is something people need to embrace, Skogen added. “We can change or be a victim of change. With the right people on the bus in the right seats, we are no longer afraid of change,” he said. However, changing requires will. If intention minus action equals squat, Skogen said, then “intention plus action equals will.”

He reminded people the principle of servant leadership is to give others what they legitimately need and they will give you what you need. “Someone might be dealing with a death in the family. They mostly need love. Maybe it’s in the form of time off or maybe just a hand on the shoulder,” Skogen said. “People don’t leave a company; they leave the management or leadership.”

Skogen said 75 percent of people leave their jobs because of the feeling the leadership doesn’t care. He said his philosophy as a leader of employees is, “Your pay is your right and my praise is my gift and I better give it to you in abundance.”

Skogen told the audience he was sorry he hadn’t learned those lessons when he was a lot younger. He said when he was younger he thought the successes he saw were due to his hard work. However, he said, what he’s learned is that whatever success there might be depends on what is done through others.

It might have been later than he wanted, but the lessons he shared seem applicable to a wide range of situations. Skogen challenged the community to examine its motives.

“Are you committed or just involved?” he asked.

The community members at the breakfast responded by reflecting on accomplishments and how dreams for the future are unfolding in the commitment to growth for its citizens.

Village President John Chapman said Holmen is growing, has four new major residential subdivisions, commercial development of 20 acres by Steve Nicolai, a new Altra Credit Union and new clinic by Franciscan Skemp to be built and Gundersen Lutheran installing infrastructure needed for a clinic.

Jim Halvorson, a Holland Town Board member, relayed news of the growth of the town and the increased use of the town hall for meetings and community groups such as the YMCA as evidence of the town being committed to its people.

Onalaska Town Clerk Sue Schultz remarked about how the town of Onalaska is committed to protecting the environment. She also noted the town will undertake a $260,000 reconstruction of the Briggs Road/Highway XX intersection late this summer or early fall. The town has hired a design firm out of Eau Claire because the citizens were concerned about preserving endangered grasses.

Roxanne Reynolds, president of the Holmen Area Civic and Commerce Association, said the organization is committed to serving the business community and said it is getting ready to publish a new brochure promoting Holmen. The organization has 114 members, she said.

The La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce also is showing its commitment to the community by providing staff support to the HACCA. Dick Granchalek said other ways the La Crosse Chamber has shown commitment to the community include providing direct support through its youth leadership programs and the honor student banquet.

Holmen school Superintendent Fred Frick said the schools are committed to achievement. “Holmen schools consistently exceed every external evaluation out there,” he said. “By any measure, our students are achieving excellence in every area.” He pointed to national-level accomplishments in DECA, Odyssey of the Mind, National History Day and art contests in which Holmen students have achieved excellence.

Holmen High School guidance counselor Laurie Kessler thanked the crowd for the support of the Holmen Area Youth Partnership, especially Holmen Lutheran Church for allowing the youths to use the church. “We have 35 members and there is an average of 47 kids a day at the youth center,” Kessler said. “Parents are already making comments about how their children’s behavior is changing after coming to the center.”

The foundation recognized the extensive commitments of Frick and HHS Principal Bernie Ferry. Rusty Cunningham, vice president of the foundation, presented each of them with a plaque and acknowledged their long years of service and commitment to the youth of the community as they get set to retire at the end of June.

Frick was emotionally surprised and too choked up to talk except to say, “Sometimes emotion is good.” Ferry thanked the community for the contributions and commitment he has seen over his many years in the district.